For those beginning carpenters out there, this is a lesson in safety. Carpentry tools can be very dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced, so be sure to be aware of your surroundings and yourself when using any carpenter's tools.
A table saw is used when you need to rip (cut) a long piece of wood. First, slide the board up against the guide on the table. Then, set the blade height to just a bit above the thickness of the wood. Measure from the fence to the blade to ensure they're parallel. If they're not, the board could kick and cause an accident.
Once your table saw is set up, you're ready to make the cut. you can push the first part through with your hand, but as it gets near the end of the board, use a push stick to protect your hand.
If you ever feel uncomfortable or like something is wrong when using a table saw, simply stop the saw. Your safety is much more important than a perfect cut.
Check out the attached video for helpful visuals for safely using a table saw.
